NZ Gets Pickled with 20 Years of Indian Ink!

Media Release: For Immediate Release

NZ Gets Pickled with 20 Years of Indian Ink!

Indian Ink Theatre Company Presents
THE PICKLE KING
Written by Jacob Rajan & Justin Lewis
Directed by Justin Lewis

Indian Ink Theatre Company has chosen to share the highly acclaimed The Pickle King with audiences across New Zealand, in this, their 20th anniversary year. From 4 May – 9 September, ten centres throughout Aotearoa will experience the artistry and magic of an Indian Ink show as the relationships at the Empire Hotel are brought to life on stage. Touring to Napier, Gisborne, Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson, Auckland and Wellington, this will be Indian Ink’s largest tour yet!

Once the finest hotel in town, the Empire is now as faded as the dreams of the piano player who haunts the lobby. Ammachy runs the Empire with an iron fist and has one big problem; her niece is blind and she will not be married. Sasha knows she must not marry because she is cursed – everything she loves dies. Jojo is a heart surgeon. However, as a recent arrival from India the only work she can find is as a night porter in the Empire.

Delving into love, death and what is worth preserving, The Pickle King, has been updated to reflect modern times with star of The Elephant Thief, Vanessa Kumar (Boys Will Be Boys, Peter Pan), stepping into the role of Jojo, and bright new talent Kalyani Nagarajan (The Brokenwood Mysteries 3, Polo) as Sasha. Both women will play multiple characters alongside Andrew Ford (Le Sud, The Lady Killers) as George. Multi-talented pianist Ayrton Foote, supports the action on stage.

First performed in 2002, The Pickle King enchanted audiences and reviewers alike with this sublime and ridiculous, simple yet profound tale. The show received a record seven nominations in New Zealand’s theatre awards, and won the highly contested supreme award, ‘Production of the Year’. In 2003, Indian Ink took The Pickle King to the Edinburgh Fringe, winning the ‘Fringe First Award’, and in 2007, it played another successful two-week season at DBS Arts Centre, Singapore. Published alongside Krishnan’s Dairy and The Candlestickmaker, this trilogy is now taught as part of the NZ Secondary Schools Drama curriculum and at Universities.

Three of the original production team, Justin Lewis, Director, John Verryt, Set and Costume Designer, and Jo Kilgour, Lighting Designer, will be collaborating alongside the Music Director, Ben Wilcock, to create a vibrant theatrical experience.

“It tells a story that interweaves real biographies and events to generate the most elaborate and brilliant fiction.” – The Scotsman, Glasgow

“A piece of total theatre which offers humanity and psychological insight.” - The Dominion Post, Wellington

Indian Ink has chosen this play to commemorate two decades of the finest New Zealand Theatre. See below for a timeline of the Company’s milestones and successes over the last 20 years!

THE PICKLE KING NZ TOUR
4 May – 9 September 2017

NAPIER, Municipal Theatre
Thursday 4 May & Friday 5 May

GISBORNE, War Memorial Theatre
Wednesday 10 May - Friday 12 May

WHANGAREI, Forum North
Friday 19 May & Saturday 20 May

HAMILTON, Playhouse Theatre
Wednesday 24 May - Sunday 28 May

TAURANGA, Baycourt Theatre
Thursday 1 June - Saturday 3 June

CHRISTCHURCH, Isaac Theatre Royal
Thursday 15 June - Saturday 17 June

DUNEDIN, Fortune Theatre
Wednesday 21 June - Saturday 24 June

NELSON, Theatre Royal
Wednesday 28 June - Friday 30 June

AUCKLAND, Q Theatre
Wednesday 2 August - Saturday 19 August

WELLINGTON, Hannah Playhouse
Thursday 24 August - Saturday 9 September

www.indianink.co.nz #whatsworthpreserving

-ENDS-

INDIAN INK MILESTONES

2016
Commissioned by South Coast Repertory to create a new play (currently in development)
Krishnan’s Dairy debut tour in India
Guru of Chai debut tour in Canada

2015
The Elephant Thief premiers in Hamilton

2014
Composer of the Year - David Ward, Kiss The Fish
Outstanding new New Zealand Play - Kiss The Fish
Guru of Chai premiers in India
Created the Patron Programme (now have a total of 37 patrons)

2013
Member of NZ Order of Merit – Jacob Rajan

2011
Guru of Chai premiers in USA
David Leiberman, top American Agent, signs Indian Ink

2010
NZ Play of the Year - Guru of Chai
Actor of the Year - Jacob Rajan, Guru of Chai
Composer of the Year - David Ward, Guru of Chai

2008
Kaupapa Oranga Trust Award – Justin Lewis
NZ International Arts Festival premiers The Dentist’s Chair

2006
Festival Theaterformen, Germany premiers The Candlestickmaker

2005
Victoria University Press has published The Trilogy of Indian Ink plays – Krishnan’s Dairy, The Candlestickmaker and The Pickle King – which are taught as part of the NZ Secondary Schools Drama curriculum and universities

2004
Singapore Repertory Theatre – Krishnan’s Dairy

2003
Fringe First Award, Edinburgh – The Pickle King

2002
NZ Arts Foundation Laureate - Jacob Rajan
Accolade for Acting - Jacob Rajan
NZ Production of the Year – The Pickle King

2001
10 Days on the Island Festival, Tasmania premiers Krishnan’s Dairy

2000
NZ International Arts Festival premiers The Candlestickmaker

1999
Fringe First Award, Edinburgh – Krishnan’s Dairy
NZ Production of the Year – Krishnan’s Dairy
First national tour
NZ Production of the Year – Krishnan’s Dairy

1997
Creation of Krishnan’s Dairy – The Beginnings of Indian Ink Theatre Company

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